ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday proposed a targeted operation in Karachi against identified target killers‚ extortionists and criminals, ruling out the option of full scale operation in the city.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Wednesday evening, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said next meeting of the federal cabinet would be held in Karachi where blueprint of the proposed operation would be discussed.
The Interior Minister said Governor Sindh‚ Chief Minister and heads of intelligence and law enforcing agencies would be invited to the Cabinet meeting.
Nisar said there was no need for full scale operation in Karachi as a number of target killers‚ extortionists and criminals have already been identified and the city can get rid of these elements in a non-political and transparent targeted operation.
The minister said the government would be proposing that law and order being the provincial subject‚ the Chief Minister of the province should act as captain of the team and all federal agencies and resources would be put at his disposal to ensure success of the operation.
Nisar said a committee consisting of representatives of major political parties having presence in Karachi and known media and business figures is proposed to be formed to oversee the operation so that no one could raise an accusing finger towards transparency and fairness of the operation.
The Interior Minister said the Director General Rangers categorically told him that the situation in Karachi was controllable provided the law enforcing agencies get free hand and there is no political interference.
He said action would be taken by civil armed forces and police against those elements against whom evidence is available and once action is initiated no one would be spared irrespective of his political affiliation.
He said intelligence reports suggest that majority of target killers‚ extortionists and criminals have political affiliations and situation in Karachi would improve only if we rise above party interests and political expediencies.
About MQM’s demand for handing over of Karachi to Army‚ the Interior Minister said he understands MQM’s concern that time has come to take firm action against criminals in Karachi but handing over of the city to army would not be in the interest of both the army and people of Karachi.
The Interior Minister said the federal government would present a detailed plan before the cabinet meeting in Karachi but it is willing to modify it or replace it with another one if reasonably proposed by the provincial government.
Nisar also categorically stated that at the moment no decision about operation in Karachi has been taken and any progress depends on the outcome of the cabinet meeting on Karachi.
